Digitally Posted Revolution: Trap House

by J. Sanders-Nelson

 Dallas-  A controversial sitcom has hit the internet webisode world with a BANG or maybe a “rat-a-tat- tat”. Trap House is the brain child of Walter Archey III, Ty Macklin and Pikahsso. According to Archey, “Trap House is a “satirical look at African American drug [dealing] culture presented in a retro 80's sitcom format.” It opens with an Alan Thick-ish synthesized song and includes a cheesy laugh track reminiscent of the sad and not so successful sitcoms of the 80’s where desperation for a hit show meant loading up a pretend entertained and jovial audience. However, Trap House is funny, edgy and completely offensive on its own; right down to one of the main characters bonding with his son over a quick “how to cook crack” lesson.

How could someone come up with something so off the cuff, considering some of the more “serious” webisode programs that are hitting YouTube and other internet video sources? Archey explains that “The idea of Trap House started as a joke. Ty Macklin and I were sitting around making up fake sitcom ideas and the Trap House one stuck”

Macklin elaborates on the concept of the show, “… its two fold for me. First it’s comedic and secondly its awareness. If viewers pay attention to the details, we're dropping science too. We’re letting you know that this epidemic is governed by the US government to the point where people are conditioned to think that trapping is ok and hip. Hopefully people will see JD's character reading books…” And it’s true, the character JD is continually reading books which are relevant past and present to the human condition of African-Americans and that speak blatantly to the “conditioning” in which many of us have succumb to.

Pikahsso’s take on Trap House is this, “… [it’s] to make people laugh and to entertain them with everyday life satire. People may wanna sweep it under the rug but there is a Maurice in every hood. It is what it is. If they wanna watch something deep and informative National Geographic comes on Discovery channel or they can watch Bill Nye the science guy.”

Pikahsso makes a very valid point. We live in a society where self-appointed saviors of the Black community seem to surface when they see a video camera and a reason to let their perm shine on national TV. Trap House will definitely draw that attention from such community icons with vision of being the great savior of our communities as long as it draws press. How do the creative three feel about the impending attacks on their creative vision?

Archey simply believes that the Al Sharpton’s and other self-proclaim voices for the progression of the black community “would be a fan of what we are doing and would make a cameo on the show.” This statement is a direct reflection of Archey’s desire to create and not cater to the needs “greater good” unless that need is to laugh.

Pikahsso doesn’t hold back on how servants of the community will react to Trap House, affirming that “My honest response would be don’t worry 'bout what I do I’m not trying to portray a perfect image, I’m not trying to come off as a leader, I’m not a role model on purpose if people choose to follow what I do then so be it. I would ask Al Sharpton, Bill Cosby or any of these overtly self-righteous Negros can you pass the litmus test? If so take the test and let’s see if you pass. Al Sharpton’s perm has done more harm to the black community than a silly sitcom filled with satire could ever do. I think people now days say they’re offended by expression 'cause they don’t know what else to say. I don’t even think they really are ‘cause if they truly were offended they would do something about it besides being armchair revolutionist. I would tell Al or any of these black leaders with all due respect sir if you don’t like the image Trap House is portraying of black people then turn off your station (words of the poet laureate Mike Tyson).

And finally, Macklin has a more prolific approach to public reaction, stating “I would say to them that I would rather see young brothas/sistas pick up a pen, paper and video camera and be creative then to actually sell dope. Those elders talked a lot about black folks "self-leveraging" and that’s exactly what we're trying to do in a comedic way instead of in a destructive way. White folks make movies and air TV shows every day depicting violence and drug use. What’s the difference in what we are doing?”

Trap House is not the answer to the main problems of the African-American community today, it is simple conscious humor. Watch it, laugh and in the deep recesses of your viewing, see the true vision of these three great minds. There are 7 more hilarious episodes coming for the first season of the new internet “air waves” sensation. Pikahsso states that the future of Trap House will be, “funnier, more ignorant, more outrageous, more obnoxious, more offensive... I wanna offend more, I wanna push buttons, I wanna be visually upsetting to people; I want people to speak on it and be honest. I want this to go global! Wait ‘til you see the other show idea I got cooking in my medulla oblongata; when Al Sharpton see's it he gone slap me cross the mouth with one of his permy hair follicles.”

The revolution will not be televised after all but it might be posted on YouTube. Click here to watch Episode 1 of Trap House

Blaque Artists Collective: A Sneak Peak

BAC

This finely tuned group of creatives convenes to perform for a diverse family audience at the African-American Museum Auditorium in Fair Park, August 25th 11am-12pm. "The Valiant Never Taste of Death But Once" by Paula J. Sanders and directed by Catherine Montgomery is a intimate look into the life of a woman who must overcome terminal termoil. "Trees Pleaze!" written and directed by Buster Spiller is more like sitting in on a friendly game of dominoes between family members, with just a touch of "not so friendly" and lots of laughs.